SAN FRANCISCO – Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield was honored Thursday as the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to a major-league player who gives back through community service and also excels on the field.

Wakefield was presented the award by Commissioner Bud Selig and Vera Clemente, Roberto’s widow, before Game 2 of the World Series at AT&T Park.

Since 2004, Wakefield has been actively involved with the nonprofit “Pitching in for Kids,” which provides grants to improve the lives of children across the New England region, and encourages kids to participate in special events to learn important life skills and the spirit of helping others in a community. Fundraisers co-hosted by Wakefield have helped raise nearly $1 million.

Wakefield, 44, who went 4-10 with a 5.34 ERA this year in his 18th major-league season, also supports the Space Coast Early Intervention Center in his hometown of Melbourne, Fla.

Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees won last year’s award. Other Roberto Clemente Award winners include 13 Hall of Famers — with Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken Jr. and Ozzie Smith among that group.

Albert Pujols of St. Louis won in 2008.

YANKEES: Manager Joe Girardi and New York agreed on the outline of a $9 million, three-year contract.

Although the agreement is not complete, the sides “are dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the t’s.’

Girardi would be able to earn about $500,000 more each year in bonuses based on the team’s performance.

He’s finishing a $7.8 million, three-year contract that he signed as Joe Torre’s successor following the 2007 season.

The Yankees have a 287-199 regular-season record in three years under Girardi. New York missed the playoffs in Girardi’s first year, then beat the Phillies in last year’s World Series

METS: Sandy Alderson was chosen as general manager and is now responsible for rebuilding a big-spending organization beset by problems on and off the field.

Alderson is the former president and GM of the Oakland Athletics and chief executive officer of the San Diego Padres.

Well-respected among MLB executives, he was executive vice president for baseball operations in the commissioner’s office from 1998-05.

GM Omar Minaya and Manager Jerry Manuel were fired after the team’s second consecutive losing season. The club has said its new GM will lead the search for the next manager.

PHILLIES: Philadelphia cut ties with 47-year-old pitcher Jamie Moyer.

Moyer was 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA in the final season of a $14.5 million contract he signed after helping Philadelphia win the World Series in 2008.

Moyer, reserve Greg Dobbs and catcher Paul Hoover elected for free agency, reducing the Phillies’ 40-man roster to 38.

Moyer wasn’t expected to return next season. He has 267 career wins but missed the second half of this season with an elbow injury.

Dobbs could have been offered arbitration, but the Phillies chose to clear roster space instead.

 

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